Sandy Kenyon reviews the documentary, 'Weiner'

Sandy Kenyon Image
Friday, May 20, 2016
Sandy Kenyon reviews the documentary, 'Weiner'
Sandy Weiner reporting live

It's been almost three years since Anthony Weiner ran for mayor and got just 5 percent of the vote, but trust me, you still want to see the new documentary "Weiner."

Watching the former congressman destroy his own political career makes you wonder "what was he thinking?" when he let a film be made of his own destruction.

I, for one, am very glad he allowed a trusted, former aide such extraordinary access to create the documentary.

When the movie starts, a sexting scandal has forced the democratic firebrand from Congress and Weiner has decided to rehabilitate himself by running for mayor.

"Running for mayor is the straightest line to clean-up the mess I had made," he says.

The documentary reminds us Weiner was great at retail politics. But in the course of a campaign that seems to be going very well, it turns out Weiner has continued the behavior that got him into such trouble earlier.

The press and the public turn on him -- with a vengeance.

What's brutally honest is the portrait of Weiner's marriage which plays here as a business partnership or a series of transactions.

Huma Abedin is by far the stronger of the two, at one point telling staffers devastated by her husband's betrayal of them, "just a quick optics thing: You will look happy."

"Don't be sad people! He may have betrayed all of us but sad is bad for business! So c'mon, get happy!"

Much has been said about Abedin and how the movie "Weiner" could impact the presidential campaign of her boss, Hillary Clinton. But in the end she's had the good sense to remain in the background of the film.

Even if you don't care about Weiner or his wife, you will still want to see this documentary which takes its place among the best ever made about politics.